BBC

Schools in Kenya’s capital Nairobi and the coastal town of Mombasa have been shut indefinitely as three days of nationwide cost-of-living protests kicked off on Wednesday.

Last week’s violent protests resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people.

Police chief Japheth Koome has declared the anti-tax hike protests illegal, even though the high court had on Monday rejected a request to declare them illegal.

During similar protests last Wednesday, the police shot at least 10 people.

More than 50 schoolchildren were also teargassed while in their classroom in Nairobi and were subsequently rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state.

People have kept away from the city’s central business district and many shops remain closed.

Kenya’s opposition have called for the protests amid rising discontent over the tax hikes passed last month by the government of President William Ruto – who during the election campaign last year promised to champion the interests of the poor.

However, since President Ruto came to office, prices have continued to soar, while his government has raised taxes.